Inspiration: Will Smith's Secrets of Success

The most positive and self-motivated man there is. Could learn a thing or two from him. 

Photography/Culture: Edward Curtis' Photographs of the Last Remaining Native American Tribes

Photographer Edward Curtis set out to document the last of the native american tribes before they faded away forever. Curtis' odyssey took 30 years and became the most extensive photographic series that has ever been undertaken by one person in history with 40,000 images. Up till that point, the natives were often depicted as savages or a lost people, but his photographs dispelled this misconception. With JP Morgan as his benefactor, Curtis' mission was to capture all the tribes in their primitive ways before they faded away, as they eventually did. He visited 80 tribes in all. Curtis would eventually have to go to the hide-outs where native people were relegated to at the dawn of the 20th century, as the frontier was pronounced closed and roads are stitching up the rest of the country. They are considered pathetic vanquished people, and the general thought was that they'd be gone within a generations time.  The  last remaining native americans are now immortalized in his hauntingly beautiful portraits and landscapes.

Princess Angeline. The last indian in Seattle. Curtis' first picture of an american native. 

Cheif Jospeh, an Apache tribesmen

Geronimo 

Wedding Party

 Singers and Drummers. 

Design: Thomas Saraceno - On Space Time Foam

So I've mentioned Thomas Saraceno's work before, his new installation, which he premiered at the Hangar Bicocca in Milan (on till February 2nd 2013), is called "On Space Time Foam". It's a multi-layered installation of translucent PVC membranes suspended 24 meters off the ground. The piece continues Saraceno's "interest in the desire to create self-sufficient aerial structures that can be inhabited by people with a low environmental impact," and creates a symbiotic relationship between structure and user, in which "one cannot survive without the other for the concept to truly function." It articulates Saraceno's interest in the desire to create self-sufficient aerial structures that can be inhabited by people with a low environmental impact. The billowing landscape is made up of various levels where each one supports a different atmospheric climate; this air pressure then reacts to the movement and clambering of its visitors. Every step, every securing grasp feeds the artwork in a unique way - a symbiotic relationship between user and structure, one cannot survive without the other for the concept to truly function. The work can only be sincerely understood through meaningful interaction, one cannot anticipate the experience with 'On Space Time Foam' until faced with the prospect of its influence - a visitor can move from a feeling of complete liberation to allegorical suffocation - surprise, delight or fear without knowing when. The installation can be considered a product of research into quantam and string theories that assert the elemental component of human existence. Generating form and concept based on the subatomic planck realm - where physical theories of wormholes and multiverses exist - to mimic what can be described as an elastic membrane which can curve, warp, stretch and contract. The work, which required months of testing, will be continued with a project saraceno will realize throughout a residency at the massachusetts institute of technology (MIT) and in a later version, 'On Space Time Foam' is expected to become a floating biosphere above the maldives islands that is made inhabitable with solar panels and desalinated water. The work is a cohesive, extraordinary culmination of the artist's fascination and knowledge of airborne biospheres - merging theoretical frameworks and knowledge from engineering, physics, chemistry, aeronautics and materials science for a greater insight into not only future societies, but the human condition.

For more on Thomas' work, click here. 

Photography: Ben Lowy's iPhone4 Photo Makes the Front Cover of TIME Magazine

Ben Lowy's Time Magazine Cover photo of Hurricane Sandy. 

33 year-old Ben Lowy takes a photo of Hurricane Sandy using his iPhone 4, and makes the cover of Time Magazine. The shot depicting the raging ocean on Coney Island in Brooklyn was taken on a humble iPhone 4S and was edited using iPhone app Hipstamic. He says that he feels no embarrassment using the iPhone for big assignments but laments at the device's poor image qulaity in low light. More recently, Lowy took a series of pictures in libya for the NY Times magazine and documented this summer's political conventions for the New Yorker. In terms of social documentary, it might be easier to take sneaky photos and work incognito, Lowy supports this as he states that he is often mistaken for an amateur or tourist because of it. 

So this begs the question, can Lowy be considered a 'real' photographer for using the iPhone? I believe it does take a photographers experienced eye to effectively communicate a great image. The camera should merely be a tool, not the defining feature or the hallmark of a good picture, but rather the catalyst. It'll be interesting to see what happens to photography and documentation as time goes one. So I pose this question to you, with my recent blogpost on the digitization of film and photography, how do you think this effects the integrity of the art/profession?

For more on Lowy's work, check hit up this link. 

Fashion/Design/Inspiration: Tom Ford

"You need to find out what you're passionate about..."

I have a long standing obsession with one of the people in the world who I have the utmost respect for. He is absolutely is obessesed with his craft. He's an eloquent and brilliant film director, designer and he's architecturally trained. His aesthetic is dapper, elegant, sophisticated, streamlined, sexy, self-assured, strong, confident, mysterious, provocative, elegant. All the things I hope my work delivers. He isn't afraid to think and to communicate who he is. 

This documentary called Visionaries by the OWN network.

Photography/Travel: Robbie Shone - Caves and Travel Photography

Was just watching some BBC the other night and came across this amazing photogrpaher, his photos are so dramtic and beautiful, and he allows his lens and curiosity take him to the world's undiscovered places. Robbie's work has lead him to explore the remotest parts of Borneo, New Zealand, China, the Alps, the Picos, Papua New Guinea and Crete amongst others. His mutual love for photography and the outdoors led him to his vocation, whose work has prospered in the pages of Nat Geo, Discover and View and Nat Geo Science. Often, Robbie can be found hanging from a thin rope photography 200m above the floor or exploring the far ends of a 189km long cave system. Such exciting and inspiration work. 

For more on Robbie's work, please click here. 

Videography/Design/Inspiration: Chris Cunningham

Known for his twisted visions of aliens, robots and androids, Chris Cunningham's aesthetic set him firmly in the sights of every alternative musicians list of music video film makers, and inspires me with his unique dark sensibility often using slapstick comedy, robots, androids, horror and often times asian aesthetics to create dark underworlds in his videos. Something like the love child of Spike Jonze and Alexander McQueen, his dark twisted fantasies always grabbed the attention of his audiences. His beginnings started from working on film sets like Ridley Scotts' Alien where he worked as a sculptor and honed his craft, somehow seemingly segwaying him into music videos for the likes of Aphex Twin, Bjork and even an ad for Playstation. To be honest, his foray int the underworld was one of my first encounters with this kind of aesthetic which really excited and threw me. Apparently, Chris is currently working on a couple of multi-media projects which I'm super keen to see. In the meantime, we can all enjoy his earlier offerings:

Aphex Twin - Come to Daddy

Bjork - All is Love

Playstation Commerical

Fashion: Style Inspiration - Carolyn Besette

She was the definition of the sophisticated New York woman. She was said to have removed all labels and tags from her garments after she bought them to preserve their modernist clean and tailored lines. She was a purist. Carolyn was definitely ver aware of what she had, afterall, she was the wife of American political royalty. Her understated class created from outfits mostly set in neutral tones with barely a stitch of makeup was timeless, she was the quitessential modern woman. She styled herself in such a way that wasn't showy, but screamed "Look at me". She was perfect. 

From the Film Reel: Trailers

Have to watch these films before I forget:

Trishna (2011). Directed by Michael Winterbottom

360 (2012). Directed by Fernando Meirelles

A Mighty Heart (2007). Directed by Michael Winterbottom

The Intouchables (2012). Directed by Olivier Nakache

Inspiration: Audrey Hepburn

"The best thing to hold onto in life, is each other."

Music/Inspiration: Top 10 Love Songs

Another boring list to fill up blog space. In no way is this official. It might not be the lyrics, or the sentiment, but the feeling or a moment in time that it reminds me of. As far as I'm concerned, this list is bound to change seconds after I post it. So here goes the list, in no particular order:

1. I'm Alright (You gotta go there to come back) - The Stereophonics
Ok with lyrics like "I'll take another punch for you. Tie my hands behind my back that way you cannot lose.", I swoon. It's needy, erotic, dependent, tempestuous, everything that young love should be.

2. If I had a Gun - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
"Excuse me if I spoke to soon. My eyes have always followed you around the room. Cause you're the only god that I'll ever need.". Melt.

3. Moonriver - Danny Williams
"Two drifters, off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. We're after the same rainbows end.". :) The Danny Williams version only!

4. I wonder - Cecil Gant
Yes. Just. Yes.

5. Just in time - Nina Simone
One word: Tears.

6. Sure Thing - Miguel
So simple, and yet so meaningful - just what love should be like.

7. Something About Us - Daft Punk
"You might not be the right one. It might not be the right time. But there's something about us, I have to say. 'Cause there's something between us anyway."

8. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band
The most erotically charged song without being overtly explicit. Fuck Katy Parry, this is the real teenage dream.

9. Electircal Storm - U2

Sometimes love isn't enough. Also, Samantha Morton is amazing and Larry looks a total god in this. 

10. Edge of Glory (Acoustic) - Lady Gaga

She's said to have wrote this song about her grandparents who were married for 60 years. She wrote in when her Grandpa passed away and dedicated it to her Grandma. She also said that they were more in love than ever towards the end. True love does exist. 

Somehow, this acoustic version is the only one that does the meaning of the song justice. 

And one extra just cause I couldn't leave it out:

11. Stardust - Hoagy Carmichael. 

If I had to re-do this list, which I can (but I' too lazy to do right now), I'd actually place this at #1. So poetic, so sweet, so timeless. Ah! Sublime!

Musings/Inspiration: Ohm

After starting bikram yoga just over 4 months ago, I'm comletely hooked, going at least 3 times a week its given me the motivation to get out and do something positive. The will power it takes makes me feel strong and I think in the long run, this will be the best thing I can do for myself - just to accept what I am and focussing each day on the small things - completing small tasks and focussing, not on the future or obessing over things I can't control - like love, or work  or family or people leaving, or my future, but rather focussing in the things that I can control, now. This is quite possibly the most juvenile things I've ever blogged about, but I'm trying to start out on a different foot and not fill my life with the negativity that I allow to invade my thoughts, but rather the positive things I can do in the meantime. Doing something every day which will get my head right. On a side note, please check out this awesome yoga and hoilistc living blog that I discovered just the other day "Mind, Body, Green", a great community whose support and great articles keep me going. Being in my head too much leads to complete and untter self distruction. Being absorbed in my own neurosis makes me physically ill too. After a long hiatus and trying to understand where my head is at, I found what I really need, yoga provides me - it stabilizes me, tests my patience, controls my temper, and allows the pressure that I put on myself to ease, I'm all-round happier. 

Travel/Culture: Hong Kong's Cage Dwellers

Appalling. 

Photography/Design: Jack Hardwicke

Ok, so I'm completely obsessed with the work of artist Jack Hardwicke, so much so that a crazy amount of his work is featured heavily on my Tumblr (hit up Audstermania.tumblr.com). From what I gather, he uses several different mediums including painting, photography and graphic design amongst others, plus some not-so-well techniques to produce these beautiful arts of work. New, futuristic, explores multi media n creating experience. Some of it even reminds me of those beautiful cinematic shots in Terrence Malick's Tree of Life. What ever it is, it's a visual feast - which is what visual art should be, no?

Please please please do yourself a favor and check out more of Jack's work here. 

Photography/Urban Design: City Movement Photo Series by Brian Yen

Photographer Brian Yen captures the metropolis of Hong Kong with talent. Using his beautiful long exposure photographs, he manages to recreate the movement with talent in this amazing city. 

He manages to freeze the fleeting moments of movement in one of the most, if not the most heavily dense places in the world: Hong Kong's Mong Kong district -  great technique for visualizing urban design and Planning. 

Inspiration: I wanna...

... to get to the point where my camera becomes an extension of myself. 

Musings: Family Matters

Sea Dayaks (Iban) women from Rejang, Sarawak, wearing corsets decorated with brass ings and filigree adornments. The family adds to the corset dress as the girl ages and based on her family's wealth. 

Dayak Cheif.

Dayak Headhunters

Raden Demang Béhé, head of the Ot-Danom-Dayaks in Ambalu (Upper Melawi river), Central-Borneo. Photographed between 1890 and 1920.

Heritage is something so alien, so disconnected from what I really am, especially at the age of 22, when I can barely grasp who and what I am. its so far removed from who I actually am. When I  go home, I see these pictures of these people, I google them. I've seen their faces before, I see their faces when I look in the mirror everyday. Who are those people? They're me. But how do I reconcile who they are, with who I am? We are connected by blood. I know these things, but is that really me? For me, I can't even talk to my grandmother, we don't speak the same language but yet, a quarter of her is me. She is me, I am her, how do I enjoy something and claim it's mine, and that it's part of me if I dont even feel like it is mine? I know it, on an intellectual level, but I dont feel it, so whats real? How and when will I have the forsight to connect the two? Perhaps that's why I'm endlessly interested in indigenous cultures, as if somehow, learning about them will spark a connection, but a genuine curiosity is something completely different from acceptance and full acknowledgment of its significance in your own life. This is not just a question of native identity, but cross-cultural identity as well. 

Swirling around in my head... my grandmother lives in the rainforest, I am native. I am Dayak. I am Bidayuh. My ancestors were headhunters. But what does it mean to be Dayak? How is one recognized as one, in the head, in the heart? Language? Dress? Physical appearance? Attitude? To gain acces to a community, you must first speak the language, right? but how  do I do that? How can I claim to be something when I have no accessibility, no agency to do so?  How do I approach? Inside, I feel like a global citizen, so where do my loyalties lie? There doesn't need to be a choice made, but I know it's a question, an issue that will more than likely be assessed in the future. I'm still very much a "tourist" when I come home. When I moved to New Zealand from Malaysia at the age of 4 my culture was fossilized as something not totally inaccesible, constant trips back home make it easier for me to understand, to assimilate. But this distance, this unknowing, is not a relationship that I'm satisfied with. My interpretation of it all is something fully removed from me. I can't lay claim to a culture, to a people, most of which I don't even know how to communicate with. It's embarrassing. Maybe it's my own pride and stubbornness, actually, I know it is. I guess I can find comfort in the fact that I'm concerned and I want to question, I want to know. I guess only time and maturity will tell. 

Photography/Inspiration: James Nachtwey

"I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated."

-James Nachtwey

War Photographer Trailer 

I've just finished watching War Photographer a documentary about the photojournalist James Nachtwey. For Nachtwey, it's about more than taking the most dramatic picture, its about telling a story and the keeping your integrity. Its about more than being a lens, but a person, taking moral responsibility to tell the stories that are unheard, that no one else can tell. The sensitivity of the subject matter must be handled with care. James believes that he is not merely a photographer, but he is involved, he doesnt hide beind his camera but he pours himself into every picture and every situation he happens to find himself in. Nachtwey's photos the human condition, our nature, our plight - how primitive we are, that after years of education and development, we are still animals, savages at our core and that chaos is imminent and very real. Not only do his pictures tell a story, but they're poetic in the way they subtly educate us of our imperfection. They're not exploitative nor are they gratuitous, or at least, they're not meant to be. Often, people sensationalize photos, and yes photographs are do often glorify or venerate something unsavoury, this is unavoidable, the most dramatic photos sell, they are also the ones that fetch the most money, and this is the vicious cycle that most journalists strive on. That's why it's so important to present the story, whatever it might be, in a light that is neutral so it's audience can interpret  it from their own vernacular. Unfortunately, documentary photography is exploitative, but how can a photograph reach the masses effectively if it isn't? This is where James constantly tries to do as much justice as possible to those whose stories he's telling. 

Nachtwey is an inspiration to me, not just as a photographer  but as a human being. What he said he needed to figure out, was his anger, how to use it effectively in a way that channeled it into something useful instead of clouding it. That in itself hits close to home. But James' demeanor is even more endearing, the calmness in his voice shows that he's been in the eye of the storm, he knows how to handle the pressure in difficult situations - he's seen a lot and cannot allow things to affect him. He comes not just from a place of artistic brilliance, but a place of deep concern for those he photographs. He cares deeply and that extends beyond journalism and the images, but within his spirit, he understands what it is to be a human being. He cares for his subjects. He is such a beautiful human being, modest and learned, unbiased, shy, self-effacing, noble, courteous, humble, sensitive  aware, inquisitive,,calm, he doesn't undermine his limitations and he seems so human and real and grounded in spite of his success, in other words - the perfect journalist. He doesn't place people into the realm of "otherness", which is so easy to do, but rather he grasps the situation as it really is. He wants to present a story that is truthful and neutral, where black and white dont exist, the subject is always fully rendered. He understands that his art, his work won't change the world and his ego won't ever allow him to think otherwise. His demeanor is simply endearing, all he wants is to educate people about the world's atrocities in the hopes that they'll take note, definitely something he's achieved with me. Perhaps Paul Strands' quote best describes the power of Nachtwey's photos: "It is one thing to photograph people. it is another to make others care about them by revealing the core of their humanness."

Evidence of Nachtwey's altruism is evident as he's on his hands and knees pleading for a mans life. 

This scene from War Photographer hits close to home. Being from that part of the world, I've always known about things like this, yet I've never done anything to help people, and it sickens me. I dont understand why or how I havent allowed myself to be exposed to it and help first hand. or even at the very least, document it. My own human condition sickens me. It's time to fix that. 

2007 TED Winner Symposium. 

Nachtwey was a TED Winner in 2007. With this, he was allowed a TED wish, with support in the form of research and money from TED, Nachtwey's wish was stated as: "There's  vital story that needs to be told. And I wish for TED to help me gain access to it and then help me come up with innovative new and exciting ways to use news photography in the digital era."
James has achieved that, to educate, so much so that its got me thinking that to be indulgent in my own "problems" makes me ignorant to those who are suffering so much more, because we are essentially the same as humans, if those others can survive and still have a smile on their faces despite the tragedy that's befallen them, there is no reason fro me not to get up everyday despite the things Ive gone through, or will have to go through. This documentary, his photos, challenges you to re-think about your own "plight", your own neurosis and realize that they're so secondary to the struggles that other people in the world are facing. 

These are a few of my favourites from Nachtwey's portfolio:

Indonesia, 1998. A beggar washed his children in a polluted canal.

Albania, 1999.Kosovar deportees in a refugee camp.

Afghanistan, 1996. Mujhedin praying while on an operation against the Soviet army.

Czechoslovakia, 1990. Heavy metals contaminated the air of an aluminum factory.

 Chechnya, 1996. Ruins of central Grozny.

Rwanda, 1994. Survivor of Hutu death camp. 

Indonesia, 1998. Jubilation at announcement of Suharto's resignation.

Afghanistan, 1996. Ruins of Kabul from civil war.

Afghanistan, 1996. The game of Buzkashi was brought to the country by Genghis Khan.

West Bank, 2000. Palestinians fighting the Israeli army. 

For more of James' work, check it out here.